Giving kids a bowling kick-start

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This article was published 06/07/2015 (3946 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s a unique thrill in hurling a three-and-a-half pound ball at high speed down a polished hardwood lane with the sole intent of smashing five wooden pins flying in all directions.
And this summer, kids can get in on the fun for free.

Bowl Manitoba is hoping their Kids Bowl Free program will help kick start an interest in the sport this summer. The program, which originated in the U.S. and was picked up in Winnipeg a few years ago, allows parents to register children under 15 for two free games per day at the participating bowling centre of their choice.

“(Parents) get coupons emailed on a weekly basis,” explained Jamie Newton, owner of Rossmere Lanes (1042 Henderson Hwy.) and treasurer of Bowl Manitoba. “They bring the kids in and away they go.”

Rossmere Lanes is one of seven bowling centres in Winnipeg offering the Kids Bowl Free program this summer. The other centres are Academy Lanes (392 Academy Rd.), Academy Lanes West (479 Westwood Dr.), Park Alleys (730 Osborne St.), Polo Park Bowling Centre (157C-1485 Portage Ave.), Roxy Lanes (385 Henderson Hwy.), St. James Lanes (1805 Portage Ave.), and Dakota Lanes (1085 St. Mary’s Road).

“Here at Rossmere we’re offering it  Monday to Friday from  noon to 7 p.m.,” Newton said, adding that each centre chooses when to offer the program.

Newton said that Rossmere Lanes decided to buy into the program after seeing the success it enjoyed at other centres in previous years.

“Roxy Lanes have run the program for a couple years,” Newton said. “They’re ecstatic on the program.”

If parents, grandparents or other care-givers want in on the action, family passes can be purchased for $26.95 US, which allows up to four people over the age of 15 to play along with the kids all summer.

“A lot of the families coming are already involved, so it’s kind of a thank you to them,” Newton said. “But others are not involved in any of our programs. So these are new kids who maybe for the first time are bowling here.”

While piquing the interest of kids to the point of joining a regular competitive program “would be incredible,” Newton admitted it is aiming a little high.

“That’s a little unrealistic,” he said.

“If someone comes out once or twice and it’s just a summer activity, that’s fine. But maybe they realize that bowling is an alternative activity for them. It’s a birthday party option. And it’s multi-age, from grandma and grandpa down to the three year old can all come as a family and get involved.”

However, if a kid happens to catch the bowling bug, Bowl Manitoba is ready.

“Maybe we can offer them some instruction and help further their game,” Newton said, adding that Rossmere Lanes runs an eight-week introductory bowling program, and is looking into a four-week intro league as well.

“If interest eventually ran into our Youth Bowling Canada program, that would be wonderful,” Newton said.

We’re trying to get as many people involved as possible,” Newton added. “It’s the first day, we haven’t been open for 45 minutes and we already have three or four families in here. That’s a good start!”

To register your kids for Bowl Manitoba’s Kids Bowl Free program, go to www.kidsbowlfree.com/BowlManitoba. The program runs through the summer.

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